Posts with the tag 'drama'
THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD- Premise by Netflix. “On a train crossing the Manchurian desert, an unlikely trio — good bounty hunter Park Do-won (Woo-sung Jung), bad gangster Park Chang-yi (Byung-hun Lee) and weird train robber Yoon Tae-goo (Kang-ho Song) — unite to find a treasure map’s promised loot. Racing through the unforgiving landscape, they stay one step ahead of rivals and the Japanese army. Ji-woon Kim directs this Sergio Leone-inspired adventure.” Mixed reviews, more good than bad.
8/10- A comedy that was bad and weird and I turned it off rather than suffer for 2 hours. TRDB.
Tags: Comedy, drama
May 23rd, 2010
TONY MANERO- Premise by Netflix. “Set in 1978 Chile during the tyrannical reign of Augusto Pinochet, Pablo Larraín’s gritty drama centers on Tony Manero wannabe Raúl (Alfredo Castro), whose obsession with Saturday Night Fever leads him into dangerous territory. Bent on creating the ultimate disco routine, Raúl sets out to acquire the illuminated dance floor that will bring him one step closer to his idol. Amparo Noguera and Héctor Morales co-star.” Very good reviews.
6/10- Very powerful and disturbing but at the same time very good. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
May 23rd, 2010
HERE AND THERE- Premise by Netflix. “The lives of two men intersect in this comedy-drama from writer-director Darko Lungulov. Serbian immigrant Branko (Branislav Trifunovic) wants his girlfriend, Ivana (Jelena Mrdja), to come live in America, while struggling New York musician Robert (David Thornton) desperately needs money. Robert agrees to travel to Belgrade to marry Ivana, but during the course of his chaotic trip, he encounters plenty of surprises. Pop icon Cyndi Lauper co-stars.”
7/10- A very good drama and excellent performance by David Thornton. I liked it. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
May 21st, 2010
TUESDAY, AFTER CHRISTMAS- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Paul Hanganu (Mimi Branescu) is in love with two women: Adriana (Mirela Oprisor), his wife of 10 years, and Raluca (Maria Popistasu), his mistress of the past several months. Now, at a crossroads, Paul is forced to choose between them in this drama from Romanian director Radu Muntean. Combining careful staging and emotionally intense dialogue, the film presents an unblinking profile of a man in crisis and the women whose lives he’s ensnared.” Good audience reviews but no professional reviews as yet. TRDB.
5/25/11- Excellent review in NY Times today. TRDB.
12/29/11- Very well acted and I enjoyed it despite feeling that I’ve seen it before in many other movies. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
May 21st, 2010
HEY HEY IT’S ESTHER BLUEBURGER- Premise by Netflix. “A total outcast at her private school, Esther (Danielle Catanzariti) suffocates under her mother’s (Essie Davis) constant pressure at home. But after forming an unlikely friendship with well-liked Sunni (Keisha Castle-Hughes), Esther starts taking daring risks and suddenly becomes popular. A smart, good-natured comedy about learning to be yourself, this Australian coming-of-age story also features Toni Collette.”
5/10- Esther is a 13yr. old Jewish girl in Australia who just does not fit in. Interesting story with good acting and it held my interest. TRDB.
Tags: drama
May 20th, 2010
ANOTHER YEAR- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Over the course of a tumultuous year, contented medical counselor Gerri (Ruth Sheen) and her geologist husband, Tom (Jim Broadbent), see their friends and relations through a series of happy events and heartbreaks — including a birth and a death. Imelda Staunton and Oliver Maltman co-star in this character-driven ensemble dramedy from writer-director Mike Leigh (Happy-Go-Lucky, Vera Drake, Secrets & Lies).”
12/10- Very good review in NY Times on 12/29/10.
1/11- A slice of life of a well adjusted and content older couple who spend time with family and friends over the course of a year. I liked it. TRDB. At the theater.
Tags: drama
May 20th, 2010
BIUTIFUL- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “When a love affair goes bitterly awry, Uxbal (Javier Bardem) must pick up the pieces of his broken heart while protecting his children and facing the powerful demons of his past. A run-in with a childhood friend proves pivotal. Acclaimed director Alejandro González Iñárritu (Babel) is reunited with his ace cinematographer, Rodrigo Prieto, for this probing Spanish drama shot in Barcelona, Badalona and Santa Coloma.” Good early reviews. OK review in NY Times on 12/29/10.
2/11- A very moving drama with a terrific Bardem. TRDB. At the theater.
Tags: drama, Foreign
May 20th, 2010
EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “After their two young children are diagnosed with a rare genetic disease for which conventional medicine has no cure, John (Brendan Fraser) and Aileen (Keri Russell) pin their hopes on the work of unconventional scientist Dr. Robert Stonehill (Harrison Ford). Director Tom Vaughan’s heartfelt drama is based on the true story of the Crowley family, as chronicled by journalist Geeta Anand in her book The Cure.”
5/10- Awful movie and I turned it off quickly. TRDB.
Tags: drama
May 19th, 2010
LE REFUGE- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “When Louis (Melvil Poupaud) dies of a drug overdose in Paris, his wealthy mother sees no other option but to take in his strung-out but pregnant girlfriend, Mousse (Isabelle Carré). Determined to keep her child, Mousse flees Paris for a country home. Louis’ brother (Louis-Ronan Choisy) visits, and she develops a fascination with him that is both erotic and angry. François Ozon crafts an intimate portrait of an enigmatic woman seeking a purpose.” Very good reviews.
Tags: drama
May 17th, 2010
TOUCHING HOME- 2008. Premise by Netflix. “Based on the lives of Miller twins Logan and Noah, this indie drama weaves knotty family relationships and crushed dreams into a tapestry of human emotion. After the Colorado Rockies cut Lane Winston (Logan Miller) and poor grades force his brother (Noah Miller) to chuck his college baseball career, the siblings return home to work in a quarry with their father, Charlie (Ed Harris). Will his alcoholism drive a wedge between Charlie and his sons?” Poor professional reviews but very good audience ones.
2/11- I’ll go with the poor professional reviews. I found it formulaic with poor acting and I turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
May 17th, 2010
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